‘The Father Has Everything Under Control.’ Yuriy Savelyev Tells of Life in Jail and Nearly 5,000 Letters From Around the World

Yuriy Savelyev, a 66-year-old resident of Novosibirsk, has been detained for almost a year and a half. In prison, he faced humiliation, poor health, and the threat of contracting coronavirus, but in those trials he felt God's support. He received about 4,700 letters from 44 countries and encourages others himself. Despite all the difficulties, Yuriy considers isolation as an opportunity to encourage others. "Love life! [...] Dear ones, take care of and forgive each other, while there is time.”— Yuriy, writing in a responding letter.

"The Father has everything under control," Yuri describes his attitude to difficulties in one of his letters "to freedom", implying the support of God.

Yuriy is now being held in a small cell, usually with one or two other cellmates, who are sometimes replaced. One of them pestered the believer with insults for almost six months and constantly smoked. As you know, Jehovah's Witnesses do not use tobacco, and for an elderly and not very healthy person, cigarette smoke is all the more harmful.

This attitude did not unsettle Yuri, he continued to try to behave kindly with others. In addition, neighbors in the cell, as a rule, turn out to be pleasant people to talk to. One of them was greatly surprised that Jehovah's Witnesses were persecuted for their faith, and wished to learn more about their beliefs from the writings of unbiased religious scholars.

Recently, Yuriy's health has deteriorated somewhat, and treatment is difficult in the conditions of the pre-trial detention center. "Teeth here are not treated at all - they are immediately removed. Yuriy has already lost two, although they could have been saved at large, "said his lawyer after Yuri's visit.

Although the pre-trial detention center is in quarantine due to the pandemic, the fact that one of Yuriy's cellmates performs various works in the detention center adds to the believer's anxiety. At the same time, he walks without a mask, shoe covers and gloves, during the day he is in different places, communicating with many people.

Fragment of a letter from Yuri Savelyev

Despite all the difficulties, Yuri remains calm and positive. He sees the conditions of isolation as an opportunity to support others. "Love life! You live with her and live ... My dear, take care of each other and mutually forgive while there is time, "Yuriy writes and thanks for the support from fellow believers and other caring people who write to him in the pre-trial detention center.